Library May Stay At High School Site

Lemont — The public library's search for a site for a new building may end where it began-at its current site in Lemont Township High School.

The library and high school boards met this week to discuss a proposal that would allow the library to share a much larger space in a proposed expansion of the high school.

Under the proposal, the library would relocate to a space on the north side of the building. It would have a separate entrance from the high school as well its own adjacent parking lot for 50 cars.

"The board is pretty positive about this (proposal)," said library director Jim McGloin. "It answers several of our concerns about having our own entrance and parking."

The high school had added in a square footage of 17,000 square feet that would be allotted to the library. "But that is something we have to negotiate. I think we'll ask for between 17,000 and 26,000 square feet," McGloin said.

The library is housed in about 8,500 square feet at the school. The library pays its share of the utilities, about $3,500 a year and most of the staffing costs of the library that the high school students also use, McGloin said.

He added that the financial details of a new space arrangement have yet to be considered.

Under the proposal, the high school would have its own 6,000-square-foot library on a floor above the public library.

The library board plans to meet Wednesday to discuss the school district's proposal.